Gas pressure operated well apparatus



Feb. 8, 1955 1. M. RAGAN EVT AL 2,701,614

GAs PRESSURE oPERATED WELL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 19. 1949 2 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 8, 1955 T. M. RAGAN ET AL 2,701,614

GAS PRESSURE opi-:RATED WELL APPARATUS,v

Filed Aug. 19. .1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l D i90 3a. i? 0 3L. 'l 30a' 42 e I HP- VB 2'6" fr ,E

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4 d BY I l rroe/vex United States Patent O ,GAS PRESSURE GPERATED WELL APPARATUS Thomas M. Ragan, Downey, and Bernard Kriegel, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Vernon, Calif., a corporation of California Application August 19, 1949, Serial No. 111,186

16 Claims. (Cl. 166-63) The present invention relates to well apparatus, and more particularly to subsurface equipment used 1n performing operations in oil, gas and similar well bores. The invention is particularly adapted to the settmg of well packers in well bores.

An object of the invention is to provide a well apparatus that is operable in the well bore through the generation of comparatively high gaseous pressures at the location of the apparatus, and in which such pressures can be generated in a safe and dependable, and preferably gradual, manner.

Another object of the invention is to obtain the reaction of diifeernt chemical substances for generating a gaseous pressure in a comparatively gradual manner and to a substantially high order, in which the diiferent chemical substances are initially prevented from comingling, and in which their comingling and proper reaction at the desired time is insured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well apparatus embodying chemically reacting substances capable of developing a substantially high pressure in a comparatively gradual manner.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved and simple manner of maintaining chemical substances separate from each other and of causing such substances to comingle and react, when desired, to gencrate a gaseous pressure for the purpose of operating the apparatus.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figures 1, la and 1b together constitute a longitudinal section through a well apparatus positioned in a well casing, with the parts occupying their initial position for lowering the apparatus through the casing, Fig. lb forming a lower continuation of Fig. la, and Fig. 1a forming a lower continuation of Fig. l;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken along the line 2-2 on Fig. lb;

Figs. 3, 3a and 3b are views similar to Figs. 1, la and 1b, respectively, with parts of the apparatus secured in a well casing and with another part released from the rst part for withdrawal from the well casing.

In the form of invention disclosed in the drawings, it is desired to run a well packer A to a desired location in a well casing B disposed within a bore hole. The packer is then anchored in packed-off condition against the well casing through use of a setting tool C connected to it. This setting tool is attached to the lower end of a running-in string, such as a wire line D, extending to the top of the well bore.

The well packer A may assume any desired form. The one disclosed in the drawings includes a tubular main body whose central passage 11 may be closed by a plug 12. A guide 13 is secured to the lower end of the body, to prevent hanging up of the tool in the casing bore or coupling spaces during its lowering in the well casing B.

' The well packer can be anchored against downward ICC movement in the well casing by a plurality of lower segmental slips 14 engaging the guide 13 and the lower abutment or flange 15 on the body. The inner surfaces 16 of these slips are tapered in a downward and inward direction for slidable engagement with a corresponding, or externally tapered, surface 17 on a frusto-conical expander 18 slidable on the body. This expander is connected to the lower end of a packing sleeve 19, of rubber or similar material, disposed around the body 10, the upper end of this packing sleeve being connected to an upper expander 20 having an upwardly and inwardly inclined externally tapering surface 21 engageable with corresponding tapered surfaces 22 on a plurality of upper segmental slips 23.

Initially, the slips 14, 23 and packing element 19 are retained in retracted positions with respect to the packing body 10. Shear screws 24, 25, or other suitable frangible connecting elements, secure the upper and lower conical expanders 20, 18 to the body, with the inter vening packing sleeve 19 held in retracted position. The upper and lower slips 23, 14 are also held in retracted position by shear screws 26, 27 attaching them to their associated upper and lower expanders 20, 18.

The shear screws 26 attaching the upper slips 23 to the upper expander 20 have a combined shearing strength which is substantially less than the shear value of the screws 24 holding the upper expander to the body 10. These latter screws have a lesser shear Value than the screws 25, 27 securing the lower expander 18 to the body, and the lower slips 14 to the lower expander. These relative shear values are selected to secure detachment, at rst, of the upper slips 23 from the upper expander 20, and the movement of the upper slips downwardly alongthe upper expander and radially outward into anchoring engagement with the casing wall. A subsequent upward strain or pull on the packer body 10 then shears the screws 24 holding the upper expander 20 to the body 10 and moves the lower expander 18 and slips 14 with the body toward the upper expander 20 and slips 23, in order to effect compression of the packing 19 between the expanders and its outward expansion into firm sealing engagement with the wall of the casing.

Thereafter, an increase in the upward pull or force on the packer body 10 substantially simultaneously shears the screws 25, 27 holding the lower expander 18 to the body, and the lower slips 14 to the lower expander, to cause the lower flange 15 and guide 13 on the body to shift the lower slips 14 upwardly along the lower expander and radially outward into anchoring engagement with the wall of the casing B. A split retractor ring 2S may be disposed in the expander 20 for engagement with one of several buttress thread ratchet teeth 29 formed on the exterior of the body 10, to lock the latter against downward movement (see Fig. 3b).

In the form of invention disclosed in the drawings, setting of the well packer A is dependent upon the development of a gas pressure within the setting tool C secured initially to the well packer. This gas pressure is developed within the upper portion of a cylinder 30 consisting of a generally cylindrical, two part, upper sleeve member 31, 31a, an upper head 32 threaded into the elongate sleeve part 31a, and also an intermediate head 33 threaded into the sleeve 41. A lower cylinder sleeve 34 is threadedly secured on the intermediate head 33, and is, in turn, threaded onto a lower cylinder head 35.

The upper head 32, upper sleeve member 31, 31a and intermediate head 33 form an upper cylinder portion 30a, whereas the intermediate head 33, lower cylinder sleeve 34 and lower head 35 form a lower cylinder portion 30b. These two cylinder portions 30a, 30b are separated by the intermediate head 33, but are communicable with each other through a central passage 36 formed through the intermediate head. Leakage from the cylinder through the several threaded connections may be prevented by suitable side seals 37 in the heads 33, 35 engaging the inner walls of the cylinder sleeve 34.

A motivating gas under pressure is generated in the upper cylinder portion 30a, and this force is transmitted' through a suitable uid medium 38 to the lower cylinder portion 30h .through the intermediate head passage V36, for operation upon a piston 39 slidably mounted in the lower cylinder portion. This piston 39 has one or more ring grooves 40 in its periphery for accommodation of seal rings 41, to prevent leakage between the piston 39 and vlower cylinder sleeve 34. As disclosed, these rings 41 Jmay consist of rubber, round .in cross-section, to guard againstleakage in both directions.

The upper end of a piston rod 42 is threadedly connected to the piston 39, the rod extending downwardly through the lower cylinder head 35 to a point therebelow, where an anvil or cross-piece 43 is mounted within a transverse slot 44 -in the rod. Leakage between the rod 42 and lower cylinder head 35 is prevented by suitable rod packing 45, in the form of one or more round rubber or rubber-like seals engaging the periphery of the rod 42 and disposed within suitable ring grooves 46 in the head 35. The packing or seal rings 45 prevent leakage vof liquids from the well casing into the cylinder 30h below the piston 39, insuring that air under atmospheric pressure is present below the piston when the apparatus `is assembled and lowered in the well casin B.

-glt is ldesired to transfer the downward movement of, or force imposed upon, the piston 39 and the piston rod 42 to the upper slips 23 of the packer A, and the vrelative upward movement of the cylinder 30 to the packer body 10, .in order to obtain the desired anchoring of the packer in the well casing. To accomplish this purpose, a `tubular actuating mandrel 47 is threadedly connected to the lower end of the lower cylinder head 35. The lower end of the mandrel 47 is secured, through the agency of a frangible connecting pin 48, to a sleeve 49 threaded into the upper end of the body 10. As specically disclosed, the lower end of the mandrel 47 is of reduced diameter and is piloted within the sleeve 49, the pin 48 extending transversely through the sleeve and piloted mandrel position.

The piston rod 42 is movable downwardly within the bore 50 of the actuating mandrel 47, the cross-piece 43 projecting in opposite directions from the rod through diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots 51 formed through the mandrel wall. The cross-piece also extends into opposed slots 52 formed through a setting ring or sleeve .S3 slidably mounted on the actuating mandrel 47, to form a connection between the piston rod 42 and the setting ring 53. A setting sleeve or skirt 54 is adjustably threaded on the setting ring 53, its lower end engaging the tops of the upper slips 23.

As indicated above, a force or pressure is imposed upon a liquid 38, such as water, resting on top of the piston 39. This force moves the piston 39 and the piston rod 42 downwardly and the cylinder 30 in a relative upward direction. The downward movement of the rod 42 is transmitted tothe setting sleeve or skirt 54 through the anvil 43 and setting ring 53; whereas the upward movement of the cylinder 30 is transmitted to the packer body through the actuating mandrel 47, frangible pin 48, and sleeve 49. Accordingly, it is apparent that the development of suli'icient pressure in the cylinder 30 acting upon the piston 39 will eventually shear the screws 26 holding the upper slips 23 to the expander 20, and move the slips outwardly against the casing B. Thereafter, the cylinder 30 will move upwardly to pull the body 10 in the same direction, for the purpose of expanding the packing sleeve 19 against the casing B, and the lower slips 14 against the casing, in the manner described above.

In order to obtain the desired operational sequence, dissimilar chemical substances 60, 61 are caused to react in the upper end 31a of the cylinder for the purpose of generating a gas of gradually increasing pressure. One of the chemical substances may be confined within a container 62, made of glass or other frangible substance, whose lower end may be closed and sealed by means of a suitable threaded cap 63.

The contents 60 of the container 62 are maintained free from communication with another substance 61 that is disposed within the upper end of the cylinder, and which completely tills the annular space 64 between the tubular container 62 and the wall of the cylinder sleeve 31a. This surrounding substance 61 maybe a liquid, such as water.

The bottom or cap end of the container may rest initially upon a float-ing piston 65, -or it may actuallyl float in the surrounding liquid 61 and be disposed above the floating piston.

The upper cylinder space is sealed completely against the entry of well tiuid, the upper section 31a of the upper cylinder sleeve having its upper end closed by the upper cylinder head or firing head 32 threaded thereinto, to which is secured, in leakproof fashion and in a known manner, the wire line D, which has a central electrically conducting core 66. This core is connected electrically through suitable contacts, with a filament 67 disposed within a cartridge 63 mounted centrally within a gun barrel 69 mounted within the upper cylinder sleeve section 31a and threadedly secured in the upper or firing head 32. The bore 70 of this gun barrel is in communication with the upper cylinder space.

The cartridge 68 has a bullet 71 secured in its lower end disposed substantially coaxial of the frangibley container 62, and directed downwardly toward such con'l tainer.

When the chemical substances 60, 61 are to be allowed to commingle, for the purpose of generating a gas under pressure within the upper end yof the cylinder, the electric circuit through the cartridge lilament 67 is completed, in a known manner, the iilament being, heated and firing the cartridge 68, propelling the bullet or projectile 71, downwardly into the frangible container 62. The firing of the bullet shatters the container to a considerable extent throughout substantially its entire length, causing substantially all of the chemical substance -60 in the container to react with the surrounding liquid .61, and generating a gas at a gradually increasing pressure. The gaseous force acts downwardly upon the iioating piston 65, which is located initially adjacent the lower endr lof the upper cylinder skirt portion 31a. This piston carries suitable side seals 72 in grooves 73 in its periphery that are engageable with the wall of the upper cylinder sleeve 31 to prevent leakage around the piston in bothl directions.

Originally, the piston 65 rests upon a iluid medium38 which substantially entirely fills the cylinder space between the upper piston 65 and `the lower piston 39, includ-ing the volume of the passage 36 through the intermediate head 33. This iluid medium is predominantlyl and almost entirely liquid, such as water, but the upper end 38a of the medium is preferably air, which forms an intermediate cushion between the iloating piston and the water 38 therebelow. In the event of an increase of the temperature of the intervening water, its expansion is permissible without operating the equipment, in View of the presence of the air mass 38a, which will merely be compressed to a certain extent.

For the purpose of delaying a transfer of the liquid medium -38 from the upper cylinder portion 30a into the lower cylinder portion 3017, as the lioating piston 65l is forced downwardly by the gaseous `pressure in the -upper portion of the cylinder 30a, a flow restricting devicef74, such as a bean or orifice, is threaded into the upper end of the passage 36 through the intermediate vhead 331. The cross-sectional area of the hole 75 through this beanl or orifice 72 is much less than the area of the passage 3'6 itself, the orifice area being so chosen as to allow -the fluid to ow from the upper cylinder portion 30a into the lower cylinder portion 30b at a slow or retarded rate.

It has been found that the reaction of water with-one of the alkali metals, or one of the alkaline earth metals, generates hydrogen at a gradually increasing pressure and to a relatively high inalpressure, of well in excess of 7000 p. s. i., and under some conditions above 10.0.00

s. i. The container 62 may contain `the alkali or alkaline earth metal 60, and the cylinder space 64 surrounding the container `may be partly or completely filled with water 61. Then again, the watermay '.be placed inside the container and the alkali or alkaline earth metal may be disposed around the exterior of lthe container.

As an example, an alkaline earth metal metallic calcium, may till the container 562, which is completely sealed against .ingress .of water 61 until after the container has been broken or shattered by'tiring ,of the bulletin. This metal will react with the water, when-allowedito comingle therewith, to generate hydrogen gas Yat agradually increasing pressure. It has been found thatsmall turnings of metallic calcium can beplacedjnthefrangble container 62, such turnings being from about g of van inch to 1%6 of van inch long, and from about 1/32 to 3/,2 of an inch thick. There are a large number of voids between the metallic calcium particles inthe container, and in view of the comparatively small size of the particles or turnings, the fracture of the container 62 throughout substantially its entire length immediately places a large metallic calcium surface in contact with the water 61, to accelerate the generation of the hydrogen gas, and to insure its developing a very high pressure.

The apparatus is lowered in the well bore with the parts in the position shown in Figs. 1, la and 1b. When in this condition, the lower piston 39 is adjacent the intermediate cylinder head 33; while the upper or oating piston is adjacent the upper cylinder sleeve portion 31a. The space between these pistons is substantially completely lled with water 38, or other suitable liquid, except for the small air space 38a on top of the liquid, which, as explained above, allows for thermal expansion and contraction of the liquid 38.

When the depth in the casing is reached at which the well packer A is to be set, the electrical circuit through the cartridge lament 67 is completed, which res the cartridge and shoots the bullet 71 downwardly into the glass container 62, shattering or splitting the latter along substantially its entire length. The breaking of the container allows the water 61 and metallic calcium turnings 60 to react, generating hydrogen gas at a gradually increasing pressure. As this pressure increases, the oating piston 65 is urged downwardly and the cylinder 30 relatively upwardly. The force imposed on this floating piston is transmitted through the fluid medium 38 to the lower piston 39, and from this piston through the rod 42, cross-piece 43, and setting ring 53 to the sleeve 54, which bears against the upper slips 23. Downward movement of the lower piston 39 takes place against the relatively slight resistance of the air 77 in the lower cylinder portion 30b below the piston 39, which is initially at atmospheric pressure, and also against the hydrostatic head of uid in the well casing acting upwardly across the cross-sectional area of the piston rod 42.

When sufficient pressure has been developed within the upper cylinder portion 30a by the gaseous medium, and has been transmitted through the floating piston 65, uid medium 38, lower piston 39, piston rod 42, crosspiece 43, setting ring 53, and sleeve 54 to the slips 23, to overcome the shear strength of the shear screws 26, and also the hydrostatic head of fluid acting upwardly on the piston rod 42, the slips 23 are released from the expander 20 and are pushed downwardly along the latter into outward engagement with the casing B.

As evolution of hydrogen gas continues, the pressure within the upper cylinder portion 30a increases to a further extent, and this increased pressure or force is transmitted to the lower piston 39 through the intervening uid medium 38. Since the upper slips 30a are wedged against the casing B, the piston 39 cannot move downwardly to any further appreciable extent. Instead, the cylinder 30, actuating mandrel 47, sleeve 49 and packer body are urged in an upward direction. When the pressure and force within the cylinder 30 has increased suiciently to overcome the shear strength of the shear screws 24 holding the upper expander 20 to the body, such screws aredisrupted and the packer 10 is moved upwardly within the upper expander to compress the rubber packing sleeve 19 between the upper and lower expanders 20, 18, forcing it into rm sealing engagement with the casing Wall. (Fig. 3b).

Further increase in the cylinder gas pressure, as a result of the continued generation of hydrogen, effects shearing of the screws 25, 27 attaching the lower expander 18 to the body 10 and the lower slips 14 to the lower expander, allowing the cylinder 30 to move upwardly and carry the body 10 and lower slips 14 in an upward direction to shift the latter radially outward into engagement with the casing B (see Fig. 3b).

. The pressure in the cylinder 30 continues to increase, as the generation of hydrogen gas continues, and all of the packer elements are engaged more iirmly with the casing B. When the pressure exceeds the shear strength f of the connector pin 48, securing the lower end of the actuating Vmandrel 47 to the sleeve 49, this pin is sheared to release automaticallythe setting tool C from the well 6 packer A (see Fig. 3b). All of the mechanism, with the exception of the packer A, may now be removed from the casing by elevating the wire line.

It is preferred to provide a predetermined sequence of steps to insure proper setting of the well packer A in packed-off condition within the well casing. Thus, the screws 26 holding the upper slips 23 to the upper expander 20 are first sheared, to engage the upper slips with the casing B. Next, the screws 24 attaching the upper expander 20 to the body 10 are disrupted to obtain expansion of the packing sleeve 20 against the casing. Thereafter, the screws 25 holding the lower expander 18 to the body 10 and the screws 27 holding the lower slips 14 to the lower expander are sheared, to obtain anchoring engagement of the lower slips with the casing wall. After all of this has occurred, the connector pin 48 is sheared, to obtain disconnection of the setting tool C from the well packer A.

The foregoing predetermined sequence of steps can be assured if a denite time interval elapses between each step to give the parts an opportunity to be shifted to their proper setting positions. The rate at which the hydrogen gas is generated and the pressure in the upper cylinder portion 30a increase is comparatively gradual. As an example, it may take from about one to four minutes from the time of firing the bullet 71 to generate gas at a suciently high pressure to disrupt the connector pin 48, at which time the packer has already been firmly anchored against the well casing. Of course, pressure will increase to a greater extent than that required to shear the connector pin 48, since an excess of pressure is desirable to insure proper setting of the packer A and disconnection of the setting tool C from the pac er.

As disclosed in the drawings, the transfer of the pressure forced to various packer parts is retarded, since the force is not transmitted directly to the lower piston 39, but'indirectly through the intervening liquid 38, which must pass through the flow restricting orice 74. Accordingly, relatively downward movement of the lower piston 39 in the cylinder 30b proceeds at a slower rate than would be the case if the gas pressure were actin directly upon the lower piston, since the only way in which the lower piston 39 can move relatively downward is through transferring of the intervening liquid 38 under pressure from the upper cylinder portion 30a through the ow restricting orifice 74 to the lower cylinder portion 30b and the lower piston 39.

It is, accordingly, apparent that a well apparatus has been provided in which high gaseous pressures can be generated in a safe and dependable manner, the pressures increasing gradually to insure the performance of the proper sequence of operations required to set the well tool or operate the well tool or packer. The dissimilar chemical substances 60, 61, such as calcium and water, are originally maintained separate from one another, their comingling being accomplished in a very simple manner merely as an incident of firing the bullet 71 and breaking the container 62. Such ring exposes substantially all of the metallic calcium 60 in the container almost at once to contact by water 61, which effects a rapid, but still comparatively gradual, evolution of the hydrogen gas to an ultimately high pressure.

The inventors claim:

l. In well apparatus: a well device adapted to be oper-l ated in a well bore; uid actuated means operatively connected to said well device and having a chamber therein; two dissimilar substances in said chamber capable of reacting chemically to produce a gas; a container within said chamber and substantially coaxial of said liuid actuated means containing one of said substances separate from said other substance; said other substance being disposed in said chamber lengthwise along said container; a projectile externally of said container; and means for propelling said projectile into said container to disrupt said container by impact of said projectile against said container and enable said substances to comingle and react with each other to generate a gas to actuate said uid actuated means.

2. In well apparatus: a well device adapted to be operated in a well bore; iluid actuated means operatively connected to said well device and having a chamber therein; two dissimilar substances in said chamber capable of reacting chemically to produce a gas; a container within,

said chamber containing one ofsaidsubstances separate from. said other substance; said` other substance v.being in said chamber and surrounding said container;.a bullet; and means for firing said bullet into said container to disrupt said container and enable said substances to .comingleand react with eachother to generate a gas to actuate said uid actuated means.

3. In well apparatus: a well vdevice adapted to be operated in a well bore; uid actuated means operatively connected to said well devicey and having a chamber therein; two dissimilar, substances in said chamber capable of reacting chemically to produce a gas; a frangible container within said chamber containing one of said substances separate from said other. substance; said other substance beingv disposedin said chamber and surroundi ing said container; a bullet; rand meansfor tiring said bullet into said container to break said container and enable said substances to comingleY and react with each other to generate a gas to actuate said fluid actuated means.

4. In well apparatus: a well device adapted to be operated in a well bore; uid actuatedmeans operatively connected to said well ydevice and having a chamber therein; two dissimilar substances insaid chamber, one of said substances comprising a metal elementfrom the alkali metal and alkaline earth metal groups, and the other of said substances comprising water; a container within said chamber containing one of said substances separate from said other substance; said other substance being disposed in said chamber lengthwise. alongthe eX- terior of said container; and means for releasing said one substance from said container to enable its reaction with said other substance to produce a gas' for actuating said uid actuated means.

5. In well apparatus: Va well device adapted to be operated in a well bore;l fluid. actuated means operatively connected to said well device and having a chambertherein; two dissimilar. substances within said chamber, one of said substances comprising a metal element from the alkali metal and alkaline earth metal groups, andthe other ofsaidsubstances comprising water; a container. separate from and within'- said chamber containing one of said substances Vseparate fromV said other'substance; said. other substance surrounding saidcontainer; a bullet externally of said container; and means for tiring said bullet against the exterior of saidA container to disruptsaid container as it enters said4 container to release said container substance and enable said substancesto comingle and react with each other to' generate agasto'actuate said iiuid actuated means.

6. I-nwell apparatus: a' welldevice adapted to be operated in a well bore; fluid actuated means operatively connected to said well device and having a` chamben therein; metallic calcium and water within said chamber; a container within and substantially coaxial of said chamber containing said metallic calcium. separate from said water; saidwater surrounding said container;` ay bullet externally of said container; and means within. said liuid actuated means for tiring said bullet into* saidcontainer to disrupt said container as; it entersv said container to release. said metallic calcium from said container andv enable said metallic calcium and water to comingle. and react with each other t'o generate hydrogen; gas to actuate said iluid actuated means.

7. In well apparatus: awell device adapted to be operated in a well bore; fluid actuated means operatively connected to said welll device and having a chamber therein; metallic calciumA and water in said chamber; a

frangible container within said chamber containing said metallic calcium separate from said water; said water surrounding said container; a bullet; and means'in said iluid actuated means for tiring said bullet into said container to break said container andv enablesaid metallic calcium and water to comingle and react with each other to generate hydrogen gas to actuate said fluid actuated means.

8. In well apparatus: a well device adapted to be operatedv in a well bore; liuid actuated means comprising a cylinder operatively connected to said' well device; piston means within said. cylinder operatively associated' with said well deviceV to operate said well device. in conjunction with said cylinder; twov dissimilar substancesy within said cylinder capablel of reacting-chemically to` produce a gas to actuate' saiduid 'actuated means; ya container withinl and substantially vcentral of 'said'fcyliri-v der'containing oneof said` substances separate-from said other. substance; said other .substance being disposed in said cylinderlengthwise along theexterior ofsai'd container;.a projectile in saidv cylinder;.andfrneans for moving said projectile. in saidy cylinder against said. container to break saidcontainer by impact ofsaid'zprojectile against said container andreleasesaid one substance from said container for reaction. with said other substance t`o generate a gas `ata gradually: increasingpressure operable upon said piston means and cylinder.

9. Inwell apparatus: a well deviceffor. operation in a well bore; duid actuated means .comprising a cylinder operatively connected to said wellfdevice; piston means within said cylinder for operating ,said Well device in conjunction with-said cylinder; two. dissimilar substances Within said cylinder capable of reacting chemically to produce a gas to actuate said iluid actuatedmeans, one of said.substancescomprising a metal. element from the alkali metal and alkaline earth metal. groups, andthe other. of

said substances comprisingr water; a. frangible container within said cylinder containing o'nefofs'aid` substances separate from said yother substance; saidv other substance being disposed in said cylinder" and .surrounding .said container; ay bullet; and meansiforf tiring. said bulletl into said container to break said container .and enable said` substances to comingle" and react with each other to generate hydrogen gas.

10. In well apparatus: `a Well device for operation" in a well bore; fluid actuated means comprising a` cylinder operatively connected to saidwell device; pistonl means in saidy cylinder for operatigsal'd well device' in. conjunction with said' cylinder; two dissimilar substances in' said cylinder above said pistonnmeas capable ofreactingv chemically to` produce a gasto actuate said fluid actuated means, one of lsaid substancesV comprising Va metal element from the alkali metal. and alkaline earth metal groups, the other of said: substances` comprising water; a frangible container withinzsaid cylinder contain'- ing said metal separate from, saidwa'ter;`.said watersurrounding saiducontainer; abullet; and means' above said container fory ringsaidfbullet: downwardly into said container to break said container and enable said metal and water toreact and generatefagas. at a gradually increasingpressure.

1l. In well apparatus: va .well device adapted' to .be operated in a welllbore;-flui'd actuated means operatively connected' to said well device. andy comprising .a cylinder and a piston slidable downwardlyin said: cylinder; two dissimilar substances' .capablewof reacting .chemically tol produce a gas; a container withi'n and substantially coaxial of said cylinder aboversaid' piston and containing one of said substan'c'esselttarate'fromv saidother sub.- stance; said other substance surrounding saidxcontainer Within said cylinder; ai bullet; and .means-above said container for tiring saidI bullet downwardly intosaidlcontainer to disrupt said container and'v enableA sai`d substancesto comingle and react with Veach4 other to' generate af` gas for actuating said uid actuatedY means.

12'. In well apparatus: a well devicev adaptedwto'be operated in awell bore;tluid actuated; means'operatively connected to said well device' comprising a cylinder and' a piston slidable downwardly-in said cylinder; two dissimilar substances, one of said s'ubs'tkaince's'-y comprising a metal element from the alkalii metal and alkaline earth metal; groups, and the other of said substances cornprising water; ay containerI v'vith'inv and'Y substantially coaxial ofy said` cylinder abovefsa'id piston and? containing one of said substances separatefrom saidio'ther substance; said other substance surrounding saidl container within said cylinder; and means for releasing saidone substance from said container to enable" itsreactin4 with said other substanc'efto'producea-gas for aetua'tingsaid-'fluid actuated means.

13. In w'ell apparatus: a well device adapted tobeA operated in alwell bore; fluid` actuated means operatively connectedto said* well; device'and comprising a cylinder and a pistony slidable downwardly in said'- cylinder; metallic calcium. andvv water within saidE cylinder; :l ai' 'container within andjsubstantially"coaxial df'- saidcylinder abovek said piston and co'nt ningl metallicca'ltiutnI separate from said water; said'waterfsrrouiiding said`cOu-f tainer withinsaid cylinder a non with said waterto@generatanyafgeirgs-atfa;grad-f Q ually increasing pressure to urge said piston downwardly in said cylinder.

14. In well apparatus: a well device adapted to be operated in a well bore; fluid actuated means operatively connected to said well device and comprising a cylinder and a piston slidable downwardly in said cylinder; metallic calcium and water within said cylinder; a container within and substantially coaxial of said cylinder above said piston and containing said metallic calcium separate from said water; said water surrounding said container within said cylinder; a bullet; and means above said container for firing said bullet downwardly into said container to disrupt said container and enable said metallic calcium and water to comingle and generate hydrogen gas.

15. In well apparatus: a well device adapted to be operated in a well bore; iluid actuated means operatively connected to said well device, said uid actuated means having a chamber therein closed against entry of well bore fluid thereinto; two dissimilar substances in said chamber capable of reacting chemically to produce a gas; a brittle container within said chamber containing one of said substances separate from said other substance; said other substance being disposed in said chamber and surrounding said container; a bullet; and means for ring said bullet into said container to shatter said container and enable said substances to comingle and react with each other to generate a gas to actuate said fluid actuated means.

16. In well apparatus: a well device adapted to be operated in a well bore; Huid actuated means operatively connected to said well device and comprising a cylinder and a piston slidable downwardly in said cylinder, said cylinder being closed against entry of Well bore fluid thereinto; metallic calcium and water within said cylinder; a brittle container within and substantially coaxial of said cylinder above said piston and containing said metallic calcium separate from said water; said water surrounding said container within said cylinder; a bullet; and means above said container for firing said bullet downwardly into said container to shatter said container and enable said metallic calcium and water to comngle and react with each other to generate hydrogen gas to actuate said Huid actuated means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,308,004 Hart Jan. l2, 1943 2,373,006 Baker Apr. 3, 1945 2,381,929 Schlumberger Aug. 14, 1945 2,445,047 Turechek July 13, 1948 2,618,343 Conrad NOV. 18, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES Introduction to College Chemistry, by McPherson, Henderson, Fernelius and Quill. Published by Ginn and Company, 1942. (Copy in Division 49.) 

